The top three batters of the Yakult Swallows display impressive cohesion, with American power hitter Lastings Milledge taking the lead-off position, "Mr. Clutch" Morioka Yoshiaki at the second strategic spot, and the third batter being the seasoned Akinori Iwamura, whose abilities may have waned with age but who, at his peak, hit over 40 home runs in Nippon Professional Baseball.
Although Milledge was struck out first, the subsequent batters were also evidently tough opponents:
Second batter Morioka Yoshiaki didn't manage to get a hit off Lin Guanglai, yet his tenacious batting style was a thorn in Lin's side. He fouled off 7 pitches before Lin finally got him to fly out to the outfield.
Perhaps influenced by the previous at-bat, Lin Guanglai later faced the experienced third batter, Akinori Iwamura, and gave up his first walk of the game, allowing Iwamura to reach first base.
